Donations Wanted/volunteers Needed

December 14, 1989

DONATIONS WANTED

* Wellworth Cleaners will be joining forces with the Marine Corps Reserves as a Toys for Tots dropoff point. New toys may be brought to any Wellworth Cleaners branch in Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, York County, Smithfield or Gloucester. As an incentive to its customers, Wellworth Cleaners will be giving discount cleaning coupons to anyone making a new toy contribution to the Toys for Tots program. Wellworth Cleaners will accept toys through Dec. 19.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Following is a list from the Voluntary Action Center of volunteers needed in the area:Voice of the Peninsula needs a screener, recruiter and readers. Call 898-4146.

Colonial Coast Girl Scouts needs leaders for Girl Scout program, working with girls ages 5 to 17. The program enables girls to share in a variety of activities and learning experiences. Call Marion Smith at 595-9802.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters needs men and women to serve as big brothers and sisters to single-parent children. Also, a part-time volunteer degreed social worker to assist in follow-up work is needed. Call Kathleen Mansfield at 827-0110.

Retired Senior Volunteer Program needs people age 60 or older to help in several community organizations on the Peninsula. Call Nan York at 827-7722.

Office of Refugee Resettlement needs tutors to teach survival English to refugees in the Hampton Roads area. Also needed are baby-sitters for refugee mothers during class hours. Call 723-1276 or 623-9131.

7th District Court Service Unit needs CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates to work on an individual case basis with children before the court in matters of neglect and abuse. Call Phyllis Caswell at 247-8781.

Newport News Department of Parks and Recreation needs people to assist with its therapeutic and mature adult programs. Call Stacey Washington or Catherine Yusuf at 247-8451.

Newport News Department of Social Services needs clerical aides and volunteers for the adult advocate, parent advocate and independent living programs. Call Beth Pace at 247-2463.

The Mariners' Museum is seeking individuals who have an affinity for ships and the sea, who love learning about the lives of sailors past, and who enjoy sharing their knowledge with adults and children for its Volunteer Docent Corps. Docents, volunteers who provide interpretive tours for visitors, have the fascinating role of teacher, lecturer and guide. In essence, the docent is the "voice" of The Mariners' Museum to the public.

In addition to giving interpretive tours to the general public, docents are an integral part of the museum's education programs. They serve as tour guides for students from area schools who participate in the museum's ongoing educational programs.

The next docent training program at The Mariners' Museum will begin in mid-January and will consist of two nights of classroom training a week for a five-week period. Training classes are designed to provide an in-depth analysis of the museum's galleries and collections. The museum also provides additional training classes about upcoming exhibits and other maritime subjects, on a monthly basis, to its volunteer corps. For instance, training is provided when a new or special exhibit is displayed so that the docent is better able to interpret it to the public.

Each person selected to be a docent is asked to donate one morning or afternoon each week - a total of 100 hours over the course of one year. Weekend docents have a 50-hour requirement. Achievement recognition awards are given to individuals who exceed hourly requirements and who give more of themselves in terms of leadership, service and attitude.

Retirees, especially those who have worked for the shipyards or the armed forces, have found this volunteer opportunity suits their interest. However, the docent program is not limited to retirees. College students and individuals who work full time are welcome to join the corps.

Persons interested in volunteering at The Mariners' Museum should call Gayle Donovan, volunteer coordinator, at 595-0368.